Chris Gayle fined despite apology to Mel McLaughlin

Sydney: Chris Gayle has been fined 10,000 dollars (R6.6 lakh approximately) by his Big Bash League side Melbourne Renegades despite apologising to journalist Mel McLaughlin after asking her out for a drink during a live television interview.

Chris Gayle and Mel McLaughlin

The West Indian was being questioned by Channel 10 reporter McLaughlin after his dismissal for against Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL when he suggested they should go out at the end of the match.

"I wanted to see your eyes for the first time, hopefully we can win this game and then we can have a drink after as well," he said.

Gayle, 36, then added to McLaughlin: "Don't blush, baby." The left-hander received an angry backlash for his comments and was branded "disrespectful and simply inappropriate" by head of the BBL Anthony Everard while McLaughin was reported to be "angry and upset".

Gayle insists he was joking, though, and has offered a full apology to McLaughlin.

"A lot of things have flared up from a simple comment, a joke, a simple joke on air and it seemed to went out of proportion," Gayle said.